Compression bone staple apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A stapling method for fastening a first bone segment to a second bone segment, said first bone segment having an end to be connected to an end of said second bone segment said method including the steps of:
- a) positioning the end of said first bone segment in face-to-face adjacent relationship with the end of said second bone segment;
b) providing a generally U-shaped staple having a pair of spaced apart legs with sharp free ends and distal other ends interconnected by a bridge that has at least one resilient curved portion;
c) spreading apart said staple legs by a predetermined amount so as to lessen the curvature of said curved portion and to bring said staple to a tensioned configuration in which one leg is resiliently urged towards the other;
d) holding said staple in its tensioned configuration and positioning said tensioned staple with legs generally parallel, and each of the sharp ends of said legs aligned respectively with a spot on the surface of said first and second bone segments; and
e) driving and embedding the legs of said tensioned staple into said bone segments and releasing said staple, whereby the opposing faces of the bone segments are caused to be pressed into engagement with a predetermined amount of compressive force.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for interosseous bone fixation uses a compression staple, generally U-shaped, having a pair of legs with sharp front ends and proximal ends interconnect by a bridge portion that is resilient and bowed, the staple having an initial configuration and capable of a tensioned configuration by spreading apart the legs by a certain amount causing the curvature of the bowed bridge to lessen and the legs urged towards each other with certain compressive spring force. A staple applicator supports and guides the staple and positions the tensioned staple with its pointed ends forward, adjacent an ejection port at the front of the applicator. A powered strike member is mounted for longitudinal movement and has a front end that will strike the rear of the tensioned staple with percussive force and eject it in tensioned configuration from the applicator.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A stapling method for fastening a first bone segment to a second bone segment, said first bone segment having an end to be connected to an end of said second bone segment said method including the steps of:
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a) positioning the end of said first bone segment in face-to-face adjacent relationship with the end of said second bone segment; b) providing a generally U-shaped staple having a pair of spaced apart legs with sharp free ends and distal other ends interconnected by a bridge that has at least one resilient curved portion; c) spreading apart said staple legs by a predetermined amount so as to lessen the curvature of said curved portion and to bring said staple to a tensioned configuration in which one leg is resiliently urged towards the other; d) holding said staple in its tensioned configuration and positioning said tensioned staple with legs generally parallel, and each of the sharp ends of said legs aligned respectively with a spot on the surface of said first and second bone segments; and e) driving and embedding the legs of said tensioned staple into said bone segments and releasing said staple, whereby the opposing faces of the bone segments are caused to be pressed into engagement with a predetermined amount of compressive force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Bone staple applicator for a generally U-shaped staple having a first and a second generally parallel spaced-apart legs with sharp free ends and proximal ends interconnected by a bridge element that has at least one resilient arcuate portion, and said staple having a rear end portion and an initial configuration and capable of a tensioned configuration in which said legs are spread apart from each other by a certain amount whereby the curvature of said resilient arcuate portion is lessened and said spaced-apart legs urged towards each other by certain spring force;
- said staple applicator including;
a) a longitudinally extending body with a front end and a rearward end, and including; i) means on said body front end for supporting said staple with the sharp ends of its legs forwardly disposed, and for guiding longitudinal movement of said staple and adapted to receive said staple in its initial configuration and for spreading said legs apart by a predetermined amount and holding said staple in its tensioned configuration; and ii) ejection means mounted to said body and having a front portion for striking the rear ends of said tensioned staple with percussive force to drive said tensioned staple forwardly from said guide means. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- said staple applicator including;
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17. A bone staple applicator for a generally U-shaped staple having a pair of generally parallel spaced apart legs with sharp free ends and proximal ends interconnected by a bridge element that has at least one resilient arcuate portion, and said staple having a rear end portion and an initial configuration and capable of a tensioned configuration in which said legs are spread apart from each other by a certain amount whereby the curvature of said resilient arcuate portion is lessened and said spaced-apart legs urged towards each other by certain spring force;
- said applicator including;
a) an elongate body with a front end and a rear end, and including; i) means on said body front end for supporting said staple against rearward and lateral movement with the sharp ends of its legs forwardly disposed, with a substantial extent of said legs extending forwardly beyond the front end of said staple supporting means, and including a thrust surface for abutting the rear end portion of said staple, and adapted to receive said staple in its initial configuration and for spreading said legs apart to move said staple to its tensioned configuration and for holding said staple in said tensioned configuration adjacent the ejection end of said support means; and ii) said tool having a handle portion, and a rear end adapted for being struck a percussive blow from a hand-wielded mallet.
- said applicator including;
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18. A compression staple for fastening a first bone segment to a second bone segment, said staple having a generally U-shaped configuration and comprising:
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a) first and second spaced-apart longitudinally extending legs with sharp free ends; and b) spring bridge means for interconnecting distal end portions of said legs and holding said legs in approximate parallel relationship, and having at least one resilient curved portion whereby spreading apart of said approximate parallel legs lessens the curvature of said at least one resilient portion, causing spring force to urge one leg towards the other. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification